SELF-ADJUSTING DOOR CLOSER

• US 20110252597A1
• Filed: 04/16/2010
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASSA ABLOY Accessories and Door Controls Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Yale Security Incorporated (Assa Abloy AB)
• Inventors: Patterson, Wade, White, John, McGinty, Joseph, Tadlock, Robert L. JR., Gurley, Jason Scott, Burris, Charles E., Faes, Steven Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,564,235 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 16/52
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/00 Power-operated mechanisms for wings motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 3/22 Additional arrangements for closers, e.g. for holding the wing in opened or other position
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 3/227 mounted at the top of wings, e.g. details related to closer housings, covers, end caps or rails therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/21 Brakes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/25 Force or torque adjustment therefore E05Y2400/21 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/256 with pistons or vanes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/264 linear
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/43 Motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/612 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/616 Generators
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/854 Switches
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/86 by hand
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/08 recovering energy derived from swinging, rolling, pitching or like movements, e.g. from the vibrations of a machine

Abstract

A self-adjusting door closer is disclosed. The door closer is self powered and includes a control unit to intelligently control a valve within the door closer to vary the operating characteristics of the door closer as needed. The controller includes a position sensor to determine a position of the door, and at least one input switch to enable user selection of at least one door closer parameter for an installed door closer. The control circuitry is operable to set the valve in response to the user selection of the door closer parameters, and the position of the door, in order to control force exerted by the door closer on the door. A generator can be provided to provide electricity to power the controller and store power to operate the controller.

Claims

1. A controller for a door closer comprising:

a position sensor to determine a position of a door;

at least one input switch to enable user selection of at least one door closer parameter for an installed door closer;

control circuitry including a connection for a motor to control a valve in the door closer, the control circuitry operable to set the valve in response to the user selection of the at least one door closer parameter, and the position of the door, in order to control force exerted by the door closer on the door; and

a device to provide electricity to power the controller.

2. The controller of claim 1 wherein the controller is operable to set the valve to a safe close position when stored power is insufficient for other operation, wherein the safe close position of the valve results in a force specified to close the door safely.

3. The controller of claim 1 wherein the device to provide electricity comprises a generator responsive to motion of the door to generate the electricity to operate the controller.

4. The controller of claim 3 wherein the at least one door closer parameter specifies a delayed action, and wherein the control circuitry is operable to close the valve for a specified time period to implement the delayed action.

5. The controller of claim 4 wherein the control circuitry is operable to detect a voltage spike from the generator and open the valve in response to the voltage spike.

6. The controller of claim 1 wherein the control circuitry is further operable to monitor a sweep time for the door, and set the valve in response to the sweep time monitored.

7. The controller of claim 1 wherein the at least one door closer parameter comprises the back check region, and wherein the control circuitry is operable to set the valve to increase the force in the back check region upon a determination of the position of the door as being in the back check region.

8. The controller of claim 7 wherein the at least one door closer parameter comprises the installation configuration for the door closer, and wherein the control circuitry is operable to set the valve in response to the installation configuration.

9. The controller of claim 2 wherein the device to provide electricity comprises a generator responsive to motion of the door to generate the electricity to operate the controller.

10. The controller of claim 9 wherein the at least one door closer parameter specifies a delayed action, and wherein the control circuitry is operable to close the valve for a specified time period to implement the delayed action.

11. The controller of claim 10 wherein the control circuitry is operable to detect a voltage spike from the generator and open the valve in response to the voltage spike.

12. The controller of claim 2 wherein the control circuitry is further operable to monitor a sweep time for the door, and set the valve in response to the sweep time monitored.

13. The controller of claim 2 wherein the at least one door closer parameter comprises the back check region, and wherein the control circuitry is operable to set the valve to increase the force in the back check region upon a determination of the position of the door as being in the back check region.

14. The controller of claim 13 wherein the at least one door closer parameter comprises the installation configuration for the door closer, and wherein the control circuitry is operable to set the valve in response to the installation configuration.

15. The controller of claim 6 wherein the device to provide electricity comprises a generator responsive to motion of the door to generate the electricity to operate the controller.

16. The controller of claim 8 wherein the device to provide electricity comprises a generator responsive to motion of the door to generate the electricity to operate the controller.

17. The controller of claim 14 wherein the device to provide electricity comprises a generator responsive to motion of the door to generate the electricity to operate the controller.

18. A door closer comprising:

a spring;

a movable element configured to move in response to movement of a door, the movable element loading the spring;

a valve configured to control movement of hydraulic fluid around the movable element;

a position sensor to determine a position of the door;

at least one input switch to enable user selection of at least one door closer parameter for an installed door closer;

control circuitry including a connection for a motor to control a valve in the door closer, the control circuitry operable to set the valve in response to the user selection of the at least one door closer parameter, and the position of the door, in order to control force exerted by the door closer on the door; and

a device to provide electricity to power the control circuitry.

19. The door closer of claim 18 wherein the controller is operable to set the valve to a safe close position when the power stored is insufficient for other operation, wherein the safe close position of the valve results in a force specified to close the door safely.

20. The door closer of claim 18 wherein the device to provide electricity comprises a generator responsive to motion of the door to generate the electricity to operate the control circuitry.

21. The door closer of claim 20 wherein the at least one door closer parameter specifies a delayed action, and wherein the control circuitry is operable to close the valve for a specified time period to implement the delayed action.

22. The door closer of claim 21 wherein the control circuitry is operable to detect a voltage spike from the generator and open the valve in response to the voltage spike.

23. The door closer of claim 18 wherein the control circuitry is further operable to monitor a sweep time for the door, and set the valve in response to the sweep time monitored.

24. The door closer of claim 18 wherein the at least one door closer parameter comprise the back check region, and wherein the control circuitry is operable to set the valve to increase the force in the back check region upon a determination of the position of the door as being in the back check region.

25. The door closer of claim 24 wherein the at least one door closer parameter comprise the installation configuration for the door closer, and wherein the control circuitry is operable to set the valve in response to the installation configuration.

26. The door closer of claim 20 further comprising a temperature sensor to provide a temperature reading to the control circuitry so that the setting of the valve is, at least in part, based on ambient temperature.

27. The door closer of claim 26 wherein the at least one door closer parameter specifies a delayed action, and wherein the control circuitry is operable to close the valve for a specified time period to implement the delayed action.

28. The door closer of claim 27 wherein the control circuitry is operable to detect a voltage spike from the generator and open the valve in response to the voltage spike.

29. The door closer of claim 20 wherein the control circuitry is further operable to monitor a sweep time for the door, and set the valve in response to the sweep time monitored.

30. The door closer of claim 20 wherein the at least one door closer parameter comprises the back check region, and wherein the control circuitry is operable to set the valve to increase the force in the back check region upon a determination of the position of the door as being in the back check region.

31. The door closer of claim 30 wherein the at least one door closer parameter comprises the installation configuration for the door closer, and wherein the control circuitry is operable to set the valve in response to the installation configuration.

32. A method of operating a self-powered, self-adjusting door closer, the method comprising:

generating electricity to power control circuitry in the door closer, the electricity being generated from movement of a door;

repeatedly determining an angular position of the door;

reading at least one input switch to determine a user selection of at least one door closer parameter;

moving a valve in the door closer to a safe close position when power available to the control circuitry is insufficient for other operation, wherein the safe close position of the valve results in a force specified to close the door safely; and

otherwise setting the valve in response to the user selection of the at least one door closer parameter and the position of the door in order to control the force exerted by the door closer on the door.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising sensing an ambient temperature and wherein the otherwise setting of the valve is, at least in part, in response to the ambient temperature.

34. The method of claim 32 further comprising:

sensing a voltage spike; and

opening the valve in response to a voltage spike when the valve is closed in order to implement a delayed action door closer parameter.

35. The method of claim 32 further comprising monitoring a sweep time for the door and wherein the otherwise setting of the valve is, at least in part, in response to the monitored sweep time.

36. The method of claim 32 further comprising determining an installation configuration for the door closer and wherein the otherwise setting of the valve is, at least in part, in response to the installation configuration.

37. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

sensing a voltage spike; and

opening the valve in response to a voltage spike when the valve is closed in order to implement a delayed action door closer parameter.

38. The method of claim 33 further comprising monitoring a sweep time for the door and wherein the otherwise setting of the valve is, at least in part, in response to the monitored sweep time.

39. The method of claim 33 further comprising determining an installation configuration for the door closer and wherein the otherwise setting of the valve is, at least in part, in response to the installation configuration.

40. Apparatus for controlling a door closer, the apparatus comprising:

means for providing electricity to power control circuitry in the door closer;

means for determining an angular position of the door;

means for determining a user selection of at least one door closer parameter; and

means for setting the valve in response to the user selection of the at least one door closer parameter and the position of the door in order to control the force exerted by the door closer on the door.

41. The apparatus of claim 40 further comprising means for moving a valve in the door closer to a safe close position when power available to the control circuitry is insufficient for other operation, wherein the safe close position of the valve results in a force specified to close the door safely.

42. The apparatus of claim 40 further comprising means for sensing an ambient temperature and so that the valve can be set, at least in part, in response to the ambient temperature.

43. The apparatus of claim 42 further comprising means for moving a valve in the door closer to a safe close position when power available to the control circuitry is insufficient for other operation, wherein the safe close position of the valve results in a force specified to close the door safely.